79. Seizing the Moment - An entrepreneurial insight on AI & Eye care with Ehsan Vaghefi

In this episode, we dive into the world of AI in eye care with Ehsan Vangefi, entrepreneur and Associate Professor of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence in Optometry and Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland. With a distinguished career marked by over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, 5 patents, and more than $10M in research grants, Ehsan shares his extensive expertise and entrepreneurial journey. Together with his co-founder, Dr. David Squirrell, Ehsan launched Toku Eyes in 2018, which has since attracted over $11M in VC funding and is backed by major industry players like Topcon Healthcare  and NVI. Tokus’ AI platform is revolutionizing eye care in clinics across the US, UAE, Australia, and New Zealand. They are building an AI solution beyond eyecare. 

Some of the episode highlights include:

1. Journey into Eye Care: Discover how Ehsan’s personal story led him to building a revolutionary solution in eye care and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.

2. Professional Milestones: Ehsan discusses how his academic background helped him become a passionate entrepreneur

3. The Toku Story: Learn the inspiration behind the name Toku Eyes and how Ehsan and Dr. David Squirrell turned their vision into a groundbreaking AI platform. 

4. Entrepreneurial Challenges: "If not me then who and if not now then when"?  Ehsan opens up about the hurdles he faced in his entrepreneurial journey and the key lessons learned along the way.

5. AI and the Future of Eye Care: Gain insights into how AI is transforming eye care and Ehsan’s perspective on the future of healthcare technology and innovation. 

Don't miss out the game segment where we learn a lot more about our guest and what he loves.

You can learn more about Eshan and Toku : 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehsan-vaghefi-2495b08b/
Website: https://tokueyes.com/usa/

Visit: www.nerdyoptometrist.com to checkout all the episodes.